Wire gate latch

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to improvement in a device for drawing two fence posts together for the purpose of opening and closing a flexible barbed wire gate. The present invention uses levers pivoted on two angle bar fulcrums to achieve a double over center action. The short resistance arm long effort arm levers are positioned for operation at a safe distance from the wire barbs.

United States Patent 11 1 Kirk Nov. 12, 1974 [5 1 WIRE GATE LATCH I 2.575.947 11 1951 Etnyre 292 247 2,644,587 7/1953 W 111 292/247 X [76] Inventor: Clair Francls Klrk, 856 Pme St., 2741910 5H956 T Z: u 292/247 Wheaflandy 82201 3517 724 6/1970 Jones 292/247 x [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 pp No 288 716 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [57] ABSTRACT [52] U5. C1 292/247, 49/34, 292/D1G. 49 51 Int. Cl. E051: 19/14 T Pmset P relates to lmprovcmem "1 [58] Field of Search 292/247, DIG. 49, 113; for F fence/Posts f for 49/34. 160/328 pose of opening and closing a flexible barbed w1re gate. The present invention uses levers pivoted on two 56 1 References Cited ztl ngle 1132! fugcntxms achieve a iioublefipvsr centler ac- 1on. e s or res1s ance arm ong e 0 arm evers x6 0 n s E a SI PATENTS 2/ are positioned for operation at a safe distance from 1,0. 40 8 1 a eig 29 247 th b b5 1,421,573 7/1922 Schaei'er 292/247 6 wlre at 1.570 734 H1926 Eversman 292/247 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures WIRE GATE LATCH SUMMARY OF THE iNvENrioN The present invention relates to flexible fence gates wherein the wires which form the gate proper are attached at spaced points therealong to an upright gatepost manually movable to open and close the gate.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel lever mechanism which easily and safely enables the gate wires to be drawn tight.

Another object is to provide a means for quick attachment to the rigid post and adjustment to the movable gatepost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become subsequently apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fence having a gate embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an extended perspective parts view of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 7 illustrate the adjustment feature to the movable gatepost.

FIGS. 3 and 6 illustrate hinge bracket mountings for manufactured fence posts.

The invention has reversible mounting capabilities and FIG. illustrates a wire loop 7 connection point to the rigid gatepost.

The invention is embodied for purposes of illustration on a flexible gate, FIG. 1, comprised of a rigid gatepost l, the present invention 2 through 7, and a movable gatepost 8.

In a simple wire gate commonly used for the purpose of fencing livestock, the bottom of the movable gatepost 8 is secured to the rigid post 1 by means of a wire loop or other suitable material (not shown). Lever action from pressure applied at the top of gatepost 8 toward the rigid gatepost l tensions the wires in the gate and the top of the gate is normally secured by an additional loop of wire attached to the rigid, post 1.

The present invention provides additional lever action to movable gatepost 8 by placing the wire loop 7 of FIG. 1 over the end of movable gatepost 8 and rotating handles 5 from lower position 9 to upper position 10 through are A. Tension provided by the gate locks the over center action of the mechanism into upper position 10. The rotating handles 5 are at angles either side of post 1 for safe operation of the mechanism and protected from release pressure by their position above the rub area of the fenced animal. The mechanism remains locked until reverse pressure is applied to rotating handles 5.

The mechanism of the present'invention is supported by the mounting hinge bracket 2, FIG. 2, which is manually shaped and attached, nailed, to post 1 FIG. 1. The hinge allows the mechanism to swing down offering minimum obstruction to the gate opening.

V-angle bar 3 and inverted V-angle bar 6 provide the fulcrums to the mechanism. Double resistance arms 4 provide a means of attaching double effort anns 5 which are the rotating handles, 5.

The device'is assembled by aligning hole 0 in the V- angle bar 3 between holes 0 in the hinge bracket and of angle bar 6 is aligned between holes 000, FIG. 2, in

double resistance arms 4 and the third pin is inserted and secured.

FIG. 7 illustrates the means of adjusting the mechanism to the desired gate tension. This is accomplished by two; or three, 12, 13, and 14; holes punched in the other end of inverted V-angle bar 6 from hole 000. The wire loop 7 is inserted in the holes and drawn up to the desired gate tension and attached around inverted V- angle bar 6 to secure.

For a neat appearance, one end of the wire loop 7, FIG. 4, is welded to inverted V-angle bar 6 at point 11 and then one hole 12 punched and slack drawn from the loose end inserted through the hole then secured by wrapping around inverted V-angle bar 6 with the excess trimmed.

It is apparent that when using a standard size manufactured movable gatepost 8, both ends of wire loop 7 can be welded to inverted V-angle bar 6 at points 11, FIG. 2, and the gate constructed with the proper ten- SIOII.

It is also apparent thatthe mounting hinge bracket 2 can be welded to a shaped clamp; FIGS. 3 and 6, 2; for

attaching to steel or other manufactured posts.

After operating handles 5, of FIG. 1, to remove gate tension, it becomes apparent to use angle bar 6, FIG. 2, for a handle to remove wire loop 7 from the end of movable gate post 8.

To achieve the over center locking action, the device must be constructed so that the holes 000 pin, of FIG. 2, rotates through and comes to rest below a line drawn between holes 0 and the connection point on angle bar 6 of wire loop 7 FIG. 1. g

The present invention can be mounted on either the movable or the rigid gatepost. The preferred embodiment is mounted to the rigid gatepost 1 FIG. 1. However, by using FIG. 6 mounting hinge bracket 2 the invention mounts to the movable gatepost 8. Then a small loop 7 slips over hook 15 of FIG. 5.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A gate device for drawing a movable gatepost to a rigid gatepost, said device comprising, a hinge I bracket attached to said rigid gatepost, an upwardly opening V-angle bar pivotally secured to said hinge bracket at one end thereof, a pair of spaced parallel resistance arms, the other end of said V-angle bar pivotally secured between the said parallel resistance arms, a rotating handle attached to each of said resistance arms and extending substantially perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, an inverted downwardly opening V- angle bar, one end of said inverted V-angle bar being pivotally secured between the other end of said resistance arms and a wire loop secured to the other end of said inverted V-angle bar whereby said resistance arms can rotate approximately to move said angle bars toward each other and with an over center action lock the movable gatepost adjacent the rigid gatepost with said wire loop encircling the end of the movable gatepost. 

1. A gate device for drawing a movable gatepost to a rigid gatepost, said device comprising, a hinge bracket attached to said rigid gatepost, an upwardly opening V-angle bar pivotally secured to said hinge bracket at one end thereof, a pair of spaced parallel resistance arms, the other end of said V-angle bar pivotally secured between the said parallel resistance arms, a rotating handle attached to each of said resistance arms and extending substantially perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, an inverted downwardly opening V-angle bar, one end of said inverted V-angle bar being pivotally secured between the other end of said resistance arms and a wire loop secured to the other end of said inverted V-angle bar whereby said resistance arms can rotate approximately 180* to move said angle bars toward each other and with an over center action lock the movable gatepost adjacent the rigid gatepost with said wire loop encircling the end of the movable gatepost. 